Thursday, November 17, 2011

November 17, 2011

EKG Devotional Day 36

"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”   Matthew 16:19

Keys, like gate are a biblical symbol of authority (Isa. 22:22). And Jesus has given "the keys to the kingdom" - the power and authority of God - to His community, the church.

This doesn't make us the doorkeeper that decides who gets in but more of a steward who has the authroity to show that the keys are real, that they work, that they do indeed lead to life.

The best way I know to describe the "keys" is to think of them as the message of the gospel, which is the only way to be given acceptance into the kingdom. Jesus entrusted these keys into the hands of is apostles, who used them to open the door of faith for both Jew and Gentile alike.

And today these keys are in our hands, placed there by virtue of our relationship with Jesus Christ.

God has chosen the church to declare His mssage and uphold His truth. The church is God's kingdom people in community. This is why every kingdom person must of necessity identify himself with the church using his gifts and resources to advance its work as it in turn advances the kingdom.

The King has called.
The dying await,
The gates tremble.
The kingdom comes.

Take out the keys from your pocket or purse. Look at them. What doors do they open for you? What in your life gives you access to kingdom work?









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